Best Resorts.Miami

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Which beach is right for you?

24 public beaches on Miami's resort coast, from the bay atoll pools of South Dade to the fishing piers of Broward. Facts come from each beach's official page, with the date we checked.

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24 beaches match.

Key Biscayne & Virginia Key

Palm-backed shoreline at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

20. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park

A civil-rights landmark on the ocean side of Virginia Key, with palm-shaded picnic grounds, a carousel and a mini-train. Swimming is not allowed.

FamilyQuieterCar-free
 Swimmers in calm turquoise water along Crandon Park beach, with a lifeguard tower

21. Crandon Park Beach

Two miles of guarded Atlantic beach with an offshore sandbar that keeps the water calm, palms, picnic grounds and a nature centre.

LifeguardsFamilyCalm waterFood on siteBeach wheelchairs
 Coconut palms leaning over the bay-side seawall at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

23. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

A natural Atlantic beach at the tip of Key Biscayne, with dunes, the 1825 lighthouse and bay-side sunsets.

FamilyNatureFood on siteBeach wheelchairsCar-free

Miami Beach

15. North Beach Oceanside Park

Nearly 28 acres of shady, dune-backed parkland from 79th to 87th Street, with pavilions and the city's weekend dog beach.

LifeguardsDog beachQuieterFamilyCar-free
 The sand and surf at Mid Beach Park, Miami Beach

16. Mid Beach Park (46th Street)

A family stop in the middle of the Mid-Beach hotel row, with its own parking lot and a nautical playground.

LifeguardsFamilyQuieterCar-free
 Panorama of the beach and hotels in South Beach

17. 21st Street Beach and Collins Park

Where the beach meets the arts district, and home of South Beach's early-morning dog beach.

LifeguardsDog beachCar-freeLively
 Palms in Lummus Park in front of the white Art Deco hotels of Ocean Drive

18. Lummus Park Beach (South Beach)

The postcard South Beach, from 5th Street north, with rainbow lifeguard huts, volleyball and Ocean Drive's Art Deco hotels behind the palms.

LifeguardsLivelyFood on siteBeach wheelchairsCar-free
 South Pointe Beach looking north toward the hotels of South Beach

19. South Pointe Park and Beach

The calmer, greener tip of South Beach, with lawns, a playground and a pier for watching cruise ships pass.

LifeguardsFamilyBeach wheelchairsCar-free

Surfside to Sunny Isles

Waves and the condo towers of Sunny Isles Beach

10. Samson Oceanfront Park

Sunny Isles' main beach park, with a playground, volleyball and a stage among the condo towers.

LifeguardsFamilyCar-free
 Newport Fishing Pier over clear green water at Sunny Isles Beach

11. Pier Park and Newport Fishing Pier

A small guarded beach park built around Sunny Isles' long fishing pier, free to walk.

LifeguardsFishing pierFood on siteCar-freeFamily
 Turquoise water of Haulover Inlet opening into Biscayne Bay

13. Haulover Park Beach

The county's big undeveloped beach park, with dunes instead of towers, an official clothing-optional section and an off-leash dog beach.

LifeguardsClothing-optionalDog beachFood on siteBeach wheelchairs

14. Surfside Beach

A low-key small-town beach between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, with one town lifeguard tower.

LifeguardsQuieterCar-free

Biscayne Bay shore

The lagoon swimming beach at Oleta River State Park

12. Oleta River State Park

Florida's largest urban park, with a calm lagoon beach, mangrove paddling and serious mountain-bike trails.

Calm waterNatureFamilyFishing pierFood on site
 Palms on the Matheson Hammock atoll pool at sunset, mirrored in still water

22. Matheson Hammock Park Atoll Pool

A wave-free, palm-ringed lagoon flushed by Biscayne Bay tides, and the calmest swimming in Miami for small children.

Calm waterFamilyQuieterFood on siteNature
 A windsurfer on Biscayne Bay off Convoy Point, next to Homestead Bayfront Park

24. Homestead Bayfront Park

A quiet atoll-pool beach at the far south end of the bay, next door to Biscayne National Park.

Calm waterQuieterNatureFood on site

Broward: Hallandale to Deerfield

The Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier reaching into blue water

1. Deerfield Beach and International Fishing Pier

A relaxed small-city beach centred on a 976-foot fishing pier, with volleyball and surfing on the north side.

LifeguardsFishing pierFamilyCar-free
 Aerial view of Pompano Beach and its fishing pier

2. Pompano Beach and Fisher Family Pier

A busy family beach with grills, a playground and a brand-new pier nearly 900 feet long, beside the Fishing Village dining district.

LifeguardsFamilyFishing pierFood on siteBeach wheelchairs
 Beachgoers on the sand at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

3. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Beach

A low-rise beach town with a living coral reef within 100 yards of the sand and snorkel trails you can swim to. No lifeguards.

SnorkelingQuieter
 The Intracoastal Waterway beside Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, with a water taxi

4. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

A shady coastal hammock between the Intracoastal and A1A, with a café at the Beach Gate and the ocean a crosswalk away.

NatureQuieterFood on siteFamilyBeach wheelchairs
 Fort Lauderdale beach seen from above, with hotels along A1A

5. Fort Lauderdale Beach (Las Olas)

The famous wave-wall promenade on A1A, with three miles of guarded sand, a surf zone and an official dog beach.

LifeguardsLivelyFood on siteDog beachCar-free
 Dunes and sea oats on the beach at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

6. Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park

Two miles of natural, unguarded barrier-island beach with offshore reefs and cruise ships passing the Port Everglades inlet.

NatureQuieterFood on siteSnorkelingBeach wheelchairs
 Aerial view of Dania Beach Pier and the barrier island to the north

7. Dania Beach Ocean Park and Pier

A small-town beach with a fishing pier, two restaurants and a playground, between the Hollywood Broadwalk and a wild state park.

LifeguardsFishing pierFood on siteFamilyCar-free
 A sand-coloured arch on the Hollywood Broadwalk framing the beach and palms

8. Hollywood Beach and Broadwalk

Old-Florida fun on a brick promenade nearly 2.5 miles long, with cafés, a bandshell, a splash park and a daily dog beach.

LifeguardsLivelyFamilyFood on siteDog beach
 Walkers on the sand at Hallandale Beach below white condo towers

9. Hallandale Beach City Beach Parks

A compact, well-kept city beach with two small parks, a playground, volleyball and a giant beach-ball water tower.

LifeguardsFamilyFood on siteBeach wheelchairsCar-free

Not listed

Some stretches of sand are left out on purpose: the Village of Key Biscayne's Beach Park and Golden Beach's town beach are for residents (non-residents can still reach the sand on Key Biscayne through four public beach paths); Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is listed, but its rules prohibit swimming; and we couldn't confirm enough from official pages about Hobie Island and Bal Harbour's beach to list them yet.